Atomic Cup
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April 12-14
Location: Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA
Contest Director: Dave, Bill, and Brenda Brandt
Schedule
Testing will begin on Friday and last thru Saturday. The 2018 season banquet will be Saturday night at the Clover Island Inn. Testing resumes Sunday at 8:00 AM. 9:45 drivers meeting on Sunday, with Heat 1A at 10:00.
Previous Race Winners:
Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2001-present
Race held in Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA 2000
-2018: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [FE]
-2017: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) [FE]
-2016: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) [FE]
-2015: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com) [FE]
-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Bob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking) [FE]
-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and John Olson (1997 Close Call) [FE]
Prior to 2013, only nitro class run
-2012: Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus)
-2011: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)
-2010: David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser)
-2009: David Newton (2008 Spirit of Detroit)
-2008: Scott Meyers (1994 Miss Exide)
-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2006: Dave Blacksten (1998 Llumar Window Film)
-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2003: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2001: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2000: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)
Enormous field brings home familiar victors in Finley
2018 Banquet award winners listed here.
2018 Banquet photo gallery from Chris Denslow available here.
Saturday photo album available here.
Saturday photo album from Chris Denslow available here.
Sunday photo album from Chris Denslow available here.
YouTube video playlist available here.
The first race of the 2019 Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC and Nova Rossi Marine USA brought us to the traditional opening location of Two Rivers Park, just outside of Kennewick, WA. It was a full weekend for R/CU, as we celebrated the 2018 season by holding the season banquet at the Clover Island Inn on Saturday night. Thanks to all who attended, and a special thanks to hydroplane legend, Chip Hanauer, for coming across the mountains and serving as our guest speaker. You can see a list of the award winners, and a photo album above.
With the banquet concluded, the attention turned to Sunday, and the first raceday of the 2019 season. An amazing field of 59 boats showed up to compete for the Atomic Cup, which is also the first leg of the Triple Crown. Four classes of scale hydroplanes competed; 24 boats entered 1/8th scale nitro, a record 17 boats entered 1/8th scale electric, 9 boats entered gas scale, and 6 entered 1/10th scale electric.
With the large number of heats to run, it was a long but enjoyable day. The weather was a bit on the cooler side, but luckily the wind stayed down, and we stayed dry on raceday.
Thanks to everyone who assisted with judging the racing, especially Brenda Brandt and Rich Matkin. We were able to push the pace as much as we could and finish at a reasonable time.
Here were the results of this record-breaking day!
1/10th Scale Electric Final
1st: 1962 Lumberville, Aidyn Brandt
2nd: 1960 Miss U.S., Jim Brittain
3rd (DNF): 1957 Miss Rocket, Ron Hartley
4th (DNF): 1971 Miss Valumart, Dylan Hirano
5th (DNF): 1962 Lumberville, John Earnest
This heat featured a couple of the young guns and future stars of R/CU, Dylan Hirano and Aidyn Brandt. They mixed it up with veterans such as John Earnest, and fared quite well. Dylan took the early lead down the backstretch, but the boat kept shutting off and did so again in the final. The Rocket and Lumberville also did not finish the race, which meant it came down to a two-boat duel. In the end, it was the young gun out-dueling the veteran, as Aidyn powered away and took an easy victory.
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy
2nd: 1970 Miss U.S., Ron Hartley
3rd (DNF): 1966 Miss Bardahl, Mike Phillips
This heat looked good on paper, but did not quite turn up as well, as the Bardahl crawled to a stop. The U.S. never found the tune, but the Circus certainly did, as Malloy ran away with an easy victory to move up to the final.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1982 Gilmore Special, Dave Brandt
2nd: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte
3rd: 1985 Coor's Light, Jeff Griffin
4th (DNF): 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy
5th (DNF): 1985 Domino's Pizza, Brandon Sano
6th (DNS): 1967 Miss Bardahl, Monty Hopkins
The Bardahl crawled to a stop before the 30 second mark in the mill, which put the Circus up to the front line at the start. Through the first turn, it was the Gilmore Special in the inside lane, in a familiar sight that harkened back to 2018. The Coor's Light chased hard, but incurred a one lap penalty and could not overcome the difference. The Circus was charging hard to try and take second, but was involved in a collision with the Domino's and could not finish. Up front, it was Trooper Dave Brandt, avoiding the carnage and collecting his first victory of 2018.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Second Consolation
1st: 1993 Winston Eagle, KC Andres
2nd: 1997 Close Call, Jason Colean
3rd: 1962 Lumberville, John Earnest
4th (DNF): 1982 Gilmore Special, Beau Rarig
5th (DNF): 1997 Appian Jeronimo, Josh Culver
The Appian and the Gilmore succombed to technical issues, which meant it was a three boat race for the opportunity to move into the first consolation. Jason, in his debut race, chased hard with the Close Call, but it was KC Andres finding home-water in the Winston Eagle, taking the victory and advancing to the next race.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) First Consolation
1st: 1986 Mr. Pringle's, Jim Brittain
2nd: 2015 Dalton Industries, Jeff Griffin
3rd: 1985 Coor's Light, Marty Shallenberger
4th: 1984 Lite All Star, Ron Cole
5th (DNF): 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Ron Hartley
6th (DNS): 1993 Winston Eagle, KC Andres
With a coveted spot in the final at the line, it was a fierce battle up front in this heat. Jim Brittain took the lead through the first turn on the inside lane, and calmly never looked back, holding off Griffin and Shallenberger to take the victory.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 2008 Formulaboats.com II (U-7), Rob Brackett
2nd: 1993 Miss Budweiser (T-3), David Newton
3rd: 1972 Notre Dame, Bill Brandt
4th: 1986 Mr. Pringle's, Jim Brittain
5th: 1962 Notre Dame, Kyle Hirano
6th (DNF): 1984 Atlas Van Lines, Don Mock
7th (DNF): 1983 Miss Rock KISW, Paxton Reunanen
These races often come down to the start, and this time it was Rob Brackett with the Fomula U-7 who made the perfect first turn and quickly built a lead. Don Mock, returning to R/CU after a 10 year absence, was battling David Newton for second, which helped increase Brackett's lead. The two tangled, pushing the Notre Dame into the final podium spot. But up front it was Rob and his smooth, reliable U-7, taking the first victory of the year at their hometown race.
1/8th Scale Nitro Second Consolation
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Dave Brandt
2nd: 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson
3rd: 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, Jeff Griffin
4th: 1968 Harrah's Club, Jim Latimer
5th (DNF): 1977 Natural Light, Ron Cole
6th (DNF): 1986 Miss Budweiser (Bubble), Brandon Sano
It is not common to see Trooper Dave in the second consolation, and he did not hesitate to make sure he did not stay there. The Squire Shop used its superior speed to take the easy victory and advance to the first consolation.
1/8th Scale Nitro First Consolation
1st: 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, John Olson
2nd: 1966 Miss Bardahl, Fred Olson
3rd: 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
4th: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
5th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Dave Brandt
6th (DNF): 2010 Superior Racing, Jeff Griffin
The Olson brothers occupied the first two lanes at the start, but Trooper Dave Brandt used a flying start in lane three to take an early lead. Unfortunately, the Squire Shop caught a gust and flipped in the right turn, vaulting John and the brand-new Pay'n Pak into the lead. He never relented, even to his brother, and advanced to the final heat.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1976 Miss Vernors, Kirk Maupin
2nd: 1987 Eliminator, Scott Meyers
3rd: 1984 Miss Island Security Systems, David Newton
4th: 1972 Notre Dame, Bill Brandt
5th (DNF): 1994 Miss Budweiser (T-3), Paxton Reunanen
6th (DNF): 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
7th (DNF): 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, John Olson
The Island Security Systems was on the inside to start, and the Eliminator and Vernors occupied the lanes to its left. The Vernors, Kirk's secondary boat, had more speed on the outside, and pulled away with the Eliminator giving chase. For several laps, Scott challenged in an attempt to snatch a rare victory from the Ice Man's grasp, but at the end of the heat, it was Maupin standing tall.